Effect of functional group polarity on the antimalarial activity of spiro and dispiro-1,2,4-trioxolanes

Based on the structures of several lipophilic trioxolane antimalarial prototypes, we set out to determine which functional groups were associated with good antimalarial profiles and identify more polar (lower Log P/Log D) lead compounds with good physicochemical properties. More lipophilic trioxolanes tended to have better oral activities than their more polar counterparts. Trioxolanes with a wide range of neutral and basic, but not acidic, functional groups had good antimalarial profiles.